CALDWELL, N.J.- The Caldwell University men's basketball team overcame a second half deficit to defeat Southern Connecticut State University 74-70 in a non-conference game.
 
The Cougars improve to 4-7 on the season, while the Owls drop to 5-5.
 
The teams traded leads in the early going as sophomore Ruud Lutterman (Gorinchem, Netherlands) scored the first six Caldwell points. Sophomore AJ Kittles (Glassboro, N.J.) added a triple and a fast break bucket to help put the Cougars in the lead.
 
Junior Ahmad Harrison (Newark, N.J.) drained a pair of triples along with a jumper near the midway point to put Caldwell in front 19-14.
 
The Owls battled back as they pulled ahead by two late in the half. Kittles tipped in a missed Caldwell three-pointer just before time expired to tie the game 33 at halftime.
 
Caldwell took the lead early in the second half as they led 39-34 at the 17:19 mark. Southern Connecticut rallied back to push ahead 52-46 with 11:15 left in the game.
 
The Cougars chipped away and eventually took a one-point lead on a lay-up by freshman Manley Dorme (Nanuet, N.Y.). The Owls answered to take a 66-63 lead with just under five minutes to play in the game.
 
Dorme scored in the paint and added a free throw to tie the score at 66. The teams traded points down the stretch but senior Derek Dorn (New Rochelle, N.Y.) put the Cougars in front for good with a pair of free throws for a 70-68 lead. Sophomore Vaughn Covington (Sicklerville, N.J.) drained two free throws in the final minute, while Dorn added two more to secure the win for Caldwell.
 
Lutterman posted 13 points and five rebounds, while Dorme posted 13 points and six boards. Dorn added 13 points, while Kittles tallied 12 points, six rebounds and two assists. Harrison finished with 12 points, four rebounds, two assists and three steals.
 
The Cougars host Concordia College on Tuesday, December 19 for a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest at 6 pm at the Newman Center.